[Sgroemm]

I am planning on retiring this July and I have been making a list titled "things I will not miss" to help me on those days when I am missing my career! I think what you are going through is a normal right of passage and the only thing you can do is take it one day at a time, change your mindset from one of looking back to one of looking forward. Bloom where you are planted, create your new normal, start each day with your own plan (enjoy the freedom), pick one new place to go explore, pick one new thing to try each day until you find your passion. Why not start a club for recent retirees? Adjusting to Life as a Retiree (ATLAAR) sounds like a purpose calling your name to use your organization skills to lead.

[rustyp]

Originally Posted by TOMCAT

I like to start a new tread with did anyone feel sad when they retired. I have not been happy since I left my job. I do not think[COLOR="DarkOrange"] I was prepared yet,[/COLOR] mentally and financially. Even tried to return. The thought of moving to the Villages made me take an early retirement package but now feel like I did the wrong thing. I work part time now but still need to fill a void. Husband is retired and happy. I think I lost some of my independence.

Still missing my job.

It's interesting you also mentioned the financial aspect. Maybe if you fix this part the mental part will ease up a little. One thing I learned in retirement is it's better to be a big fish in a little pond than a little fish in a big pond. Less keeping up with the Jones' = better sleep.

[BoatRatKat]

It's a transition. My husband took to retirement with gusto, he didn't miss work one little bit and he didn't feel the need to volunteer or gather new hobbies either. He was just happy not having to work anymore. I, on the other hand, had a strange time with it. I had loved my work but it wasn't that...I think it was the transitioning to the new phase in my life which made it official that I was indeed getting older, I was now on the other side of the hill going downward instead of working upward as I always had done. It took me less than a year to feel "normal" again and what really helped was finding something else I was good at doing for myself. I had dabbled in painting and I focused full force on that and the better my art became the better I felt...I was working upward on something again. Of course, exercise helps tremendously too to clear your head. Now living here in TV I've found art groups and I volunteer, have a great church and am very happy in retirement. You'll get there...try not to worry yourself too much about it. It's an awesome feeling to be doing whatever you want to do whenever you feel like doing it.

[Fredster]

Years ago a co-worker shared a saying with me that his uncle Tony told him, it was “We work to live, we don’t live to work!”
I always felt that was a wise outlook, and never forgot it!

[Madelaine Amee]

You have had some great replies to your original post, which really is a cry for help. Just know that you are not alone - RETIREMENT IS VERY DIFFICULT for some, and I was one of them. On the other hand, my husband slid into retirement. We had a second home on a golf course and the Pro had been after him for sometime to go and work in the pro shop when he retired. He loved that and I was left at home cooking, cleaning, gardening and getting more and more bored. Then we discovered TV and moved here permanently - another move to get used to!

My suggestion to you is to apply at Publix. They are a great company to work for and they give you hours that you really want. I believe you only have to do two four hour periods in a week, and the pay is not terrible either. On the plus side is working with people, talking and laughing with the other employees, talking to customers - some you will like and some you will think crawled out from under a rock! Working in Publix or some other store, will give you the needed reason to get up in the morning and have somewhere to go, it will allow you time to adjust and time to find something else you may like to do.

Time will gradually allow you to enjoy your retirement. Now I love my life, love my home, enjoy my friends. It's all good and I wish it could last forever!

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Sgroemm

...Why not start a club for recent retirees? Adjusting to Life as a Retiree (ATLAAR) sounds like a purpose calling your name to use your organization skills to lead.

As I was reading this thread, I was thinking that an adjustment-to-retirement club would be great. I bet it would be very successful...both in numbers and results.

[BRN_RI_FL]

I took early retirement in 2015 from Hasbro at age 61 after 31 years at the company. I think I adjusted ok but in the back of my mind I wondered if I should have worked longer especially when I would meet my old coworkers for lunch. Thirteen months later they asked me to come back to work on a project that was in jeopardy. I really enjoyed my return but retired again a year later this past July at age 63 upon completion of the project, however I could have worked longer.
We closed on our Villages villa on June 30. We still have our house in RI with its acre of landscaping which I maintain while we are up there. I’ve taken up oil painting. Trying to teach the wife how to golf. Walk the dog a couple times a day. We drive between RI and Florida because of the dog. Probably going to split our time 50/50 between both places,
I guess I was finally ready for retirement because the last thing I would want to do now is return to work. The only time I even think of work is when I need to meet an employee at the employee toy store to let me in to buy toys for the grandkids.

[villagetinker]

Tomcat, lots of useful info so far. Here are my humble thoughts, there are lots of opportunities to volunteer look in the daily sun. If you need to earn some additional funds, I have seen many listing in the classifieds, and you can register on INDEED, you will probably get more offers then you can imagine. I would stay away from Craigslist. Depending on what your career was, you could possibly just go into business for yourself, as a consultant or similar. There are many people in the villages doing small jobs for others, I help with odd repairs for example.
I took early retirement (62), did the consulting thing for 1 year, then worked around the house (back up north), my wife was still working at the time, then she decided to retire, within 2 months we bought a lot, built a house, and moved in 2 days after her last day of work. We keep busy with an active lifestyle, and all of our friends.
Hope this helps.

[tophcfa]

My only regret is that I didn't retire sooner. I can't understand how I got everything done with about 60 hours less free time every week? There isn't nearly enough time in the day for everything I want to do. As long as I am healthy, I will never get bored. Too many people wok so long that when they finally retire their health is failing and they can't stay active. My advise would be to retire as soon as financially possible. The way I look at it, every day That I went to work was one day closer to my death where I would rather have been doing something else. I feel bad for people whose life is their work.

[TOMCAT]

Thanks for all the input. Yes I am finding retirement hard to adjust as for my husband he has always be fine with it. I think the routine, the people, always striving to do better, etc. is the problem. I left jobs before but this one affected me as it is saying retired. Do not like retirement. Just need to move on to something else. Keep working my part time job until I feel better.

Actually some of you did mentioned that you returned to work for a bit. I only wish I would be ask to return for a bit also. This way I know what to expect when I retire again and be prepared.

[manaboutown]

IMHO most people want to feel they have a purpose in life which may be why transition to retirement is difficult for them. I recall a couple of large companies I worked for offered retirement seminars and courses to prepare their employees for retirement. What I did was gradually wind down how much time I was putting into my work. I retain a few investments which require my attention - but not too much of it. It is important to have something to think about and folks to talk to and socialize with.

[gap2415]

When I reluctantly retired from a business, I left behind friends, a sort of family, my home which was part of it and much income. They are all losses, like little deaths. My children grew up and moved away. I also realize I’m a senior citizen so I left behind my youth as well as the other necessary losses. We build a life, hit plateaus, then as we age learn well or badly, the art of letting go. It’s easier for some than it was for me. Swings of depression are felt now and then. I realize it is time to fill the space with something new, something fulfilling, especially if you are alone. It can be work at the beginning to find adventures small and large but we do need meaning and worth, not in other’s eyes but our own. I used to think going back to that work was the answer but for me it is not as I would just be trying to fill a mental space and not learning to live right here, right now. Old dogs can learn new tricks and The Villages is a good start.

[TOMCAT]

I think my problem is I should never had retired in the first place. Why fix it when it is not broken as they say.

(And what I cannot do is try to rectify what I did by returning back to my job like I tried over and over again. That is making my depression more. If only employers were more understandable with their employees. Especially ones who were good workers and carry responsibilities of their jobs efficiently.)

[TOMCAT]

I told everyone at my job that I was moving to Florida within a year and that is why I took early buyout. Extra money to have. Never realized that I would actually miss my work. How shocking this is for me. My whole world turned upside down for me.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by TOMCAT

I told everyone at my job that I was moving to Florida within a year and that is why I took early buyout. Extra money to have. Never realized that I would actually miss my work. How shocking this is for me. My whole world turned upside down for me.

You spent more time at work, than with your family. Work was your second family. The Villages is the best place for your next chapter and enjoying your years of hard work.